Flavoring with α, β-unsaturated aldehydes

ABSTRACT

Use of certain α,β-unsaturated adlehydes as flavoring and taste-modifying agents in the aromatization of foodstuffs in general and imitation flavors for foodstuffs, beverages, animal feeds, pharmaceutical preparations and tobacco products. 
     Some of the disclosed aldehydes are new chemical entities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The compounds to which the present invention relates belong to the class of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of formula ##STR1## wherein symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms.

Some of the compounds of formula (I) are new. These include the following:

2-butyl-hept-2-enal,

2-propyl-oct-2-enal,

2-pentyl-oct-2-enal and

2-butyl-non-2-enal.

The compounds of formula (I) possess interesting organoleptic properties and consequently may be advantageously used in the flavour industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous aldehydic compounds are known in the art. For instance, dec-2-enal is employed in the reconstitution of flavours of fruity type, especially of citrus fruits, or in the manufacture of peach type aromas. Certain lower alkyl α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, such as hex-2-enal, namely, in its trans isomeric form, is used in compositions of strawberry, banana, apple or apricot type. Other unsaturated aldehydes having the double bond in the β,γ- or γ,δ- position find an advantageous utilization in the reconstitution of creamy and fatty notes. Hept-4-enal belongs to this class of derivatives.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,451 describes the use as flavouring ingredient of 2-butyl-but-2-enal, a compound possessing a gustative taste of sweet, slightly roasted and fatty character reminiscent of hazelnuts.

THE INVENTION

We have now surprisingly discovered that the compounds of formula (I) develop various gustative notes ranging from fatty notes to burnt, meaty, caramel or sometimes green and animal ones.

The class of compounds of formula (I) include 2-methyl-oct-2-enal, which compound possesses a particularly powerful flavour note of meaty type associated with an oily, green gustative character. For certain of its characters the flavour of 2-methyl-oct-2-enal is reminiscent of the taste of potatoes when freshly subjected to frying or, more generally, of fried foodstuffs.

Though to a lesser extent, these features are also shown by the higher homologs of 2-methyl-oct-2-enal, viz. 2-butyl-oct-2-enal, 2-pentyl-oct-2-enal and 2-metnyl-non-2-enal. Owing to their valuable flavouring properties, the compounds of formula (I) can be used for the aromatization of foodstuffs and beverages of various nature. Typically, they can be used to impart, improve or modify the meaty and fatty notes of meat or meat-imitating products destined to human or animal consumption.

Consequently, the present invention relates to a method for imparting, improving or modifying the organoleptic properties of foodstuffs and beverages, which method comprises adding thereto a small but flavouring effective amount of at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of formula (I).

The invention further provides a composition comprising a foodstuff or a beverage and a small but flavouring effective amount of at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of formula (I).

An object of the present invention consists also in a flavouring composition containing an effective flavouring amount of at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of formula (I).

Another object of the instant invention consists in a foodstuff or a beverage having a meaty taste which comprises having added thereto as flavouring effective ingredient an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde of formula (I).

Still another object of the present invention is a method to impart, improve or modify the oily-green gustative note of foodstuff subjected to a frying process which method comprises adding thereto as flavouring effective ingredient at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of formula (I).

The invention provides finally new composition of matter belonging to the class of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of formula (I), these are the following:

2-butyl-hept-2-enal,

2-propyl-oct-2-enal,

2-pentyl-oct-2-enal and

2-butyl-non-2-enal.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In above given formula (I), symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms. Thus, R can represent a propyl, a butyl, a pentyl or a hexyl radical. Preferably R designates a pentyl radical.

Symbol R¹ in formula (I) represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms. Thus R¹ can designate a radical such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, sec-butyl, ter-butyl, iso-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, ter-pentyl, hexyl, sec-hexyl, ter-hexyl, iso-hexyl, heptyl, sec-heptyl, ter-heptyl and iso-heptyl. Methyl is preferred.

The proportions at which the said compounds can achieve interesting gustative effects vary within wide limits.

Preferentially, these proportions are of from about 0.01 to 10 ppm (parts per million) by weight based on the total weight of the material into which they are incorporated. These values, however, should not be interpreted restrictively and it should be understood by those skilled in the art that concentrations lower or higher than those indicated above may be used whenever it is desired to achieve special effects. It is moreover well known in the art that concentrations of a given flavourant depend on the nature of the specific material it is desired to aromatize and on the nature of the coingredients in a given composition.

The compounds of formula (I) can be utilized in accordance with the invention on their own or, more frequently in admixture with common edible solvents, e.g. in admixture with ethyl alcohol, dipropylene glycol or triacetine. Compounds (I) can be prepared in accordance with current methods, e.g. by aldol condensation of the appropriate saturated aldehydes or by cleavage of certain Schiff bases following the method illustrated hereinbelow for the preparation of 2-methyl-oct-2-enal (temperatures in degrees centigrade). This method, known as the Wittig type aldolisation, has been described for example in "Neuere Methoden der praparativen organischen Chemie", vol. VI, Editor W. Forst, Verlag Chemie, pp. 56-7.

PREPARATION OF 2-METHYL-OCT-2-ENAL

1. 30 ml of a 1.62 N solution of butyllithium in hexane were added under stirring at room temperature and within 25 minutes to a solution of 5 g of diisopropylamine in 25 ml of anhydrous ether. The reaction mixture was then cooled at 0° and, in 10 minute time, 6.95 g of the Schiff base obtained by reacting cyclohexylamine and propenal, in 40 ml diethyl ester, were added thereto. The obtained mixture was kept at 0° for 10 further minutes, then cooled at -70°, at which temperature 5 g of hexanal were added dropwise. The temperature was slowly increased to room temperature, while the mixture was kept under continous stirring, then it was poured onto 50 g of crushed ice and extracted with 3 fractions of 50 ml each of ether. The combined organic extracts were washed with water and with a 10% aqueous HCl solution until neutrality. After drying and evaporation at 40° they gave 10.9 g of a residue which could be directly utilized for the next reaction step.

2. A mixture comprising 10.9 g of the product obtained according to paragraph 1 above, 25 ml of ethanol, 25 ml of water and 25 ml of 10% sulphuric acid was refluxed for 3 hours, then cooled and extracted with 4 fractions of 30 ml each of ether. The combined organic extracts were washed, dried and evaporated at 20° to give 5.6 g of a residue which, upon distillation, yielded 3.1 g of 2-methyl-oct-2-enal. The analytical data of the thus obtained product were identical with those of a pure sample prepared in accordance with the literature (see e.g.: Tetrahedron Letters, 1973, 2465-8). The other compounds of formula (I) could be prepared in an analogous manner.

The new compounds of the invention have shown the following analytical data:

2-Butyl-hept-2-enal

MS: M⁺ =168; m/e: 55 (100), 41 (84.2), 111 (83.5), 43 (75.7), 83 (56.8), 139 (55), 81 (48.3).

NMR(CDCl₃): 0.90-1.0 (6H, 2t); 1.32 (8H, m); 2.25 (4H, m); 6.40 (1H, t); 9.30 (1H, s) δ ppm.

2-Propyl-oct-2-enal

MS: M⁺ =168; m/e: 55 (100), 41 (93), 125 (92.5), 43 (78), 83 (69), 29 (59.5), 69 (49), 97 (45.5).

NMR(CDCl₃): 0.90 (3H, t); 1.0 (3H, t); 1.4 (8H, m); 2.27 (4H, m); 6.57 (1H, t); 9.38 (1H, s) δ ppm.

2-Pentyl-oct-2-enal

MS: M⁺ =196; m/e: 55 (100), 41 (97.6), 125 (83.3), 43 (78), 29 (70.0), 83 (68.2), 69 (59), 56 (59), 81 (57.8), 153 (52), 95 (50.2), 97 (46.8).

NMR(CDCl₃): 0.89-0.91 (6H, 2t); 1.32 (12H, m); 2.30 (4H, m); 6.44 (1H, t); 9.38 (1H, s) δ ppm.

2-Butyl-non-2enal

MS: M⁺ =196; m/e: 55 (100), 41 (89.5), 43 (86.7), 139 (84.1), 83 (62), 69 (59.3), 29 (53), 97 (49.2), 71 (49.2).

NMR(CDCl₃): 0.84 (6H, t); 1.22-1.53 (12H, m); 2.10-2.55 (4H, m); 6.42 (1H, t); 9.35 (1H, s) δ ppm.

The invention is better illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1

A series of compounds belonging to the class of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of formula (I) were evaluated by dissolving them in an aqueous salt solution (0.5% NaCl in crystal spring water). The following table resumes the opinion expressed by the experienced flavourists who conducted the evaluation:

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Compound    Dosage [ppm] Evaluation comments                                   ______________________________________                                         2-propyl-hept-2-enal                                                                       1.0          fatty, meaty, slightly                                                         floral                                                2-butyl-hept-2-enal                                                                        2.0          meaty, burnt, caramel                                 2-methyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        0.2          fatty, meaty, oily,                                                            green, powerful                                       2-propyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        2.0          meaty, sweet, caramel,                                                         animal                                                2-butyl-oct-2-enal                                                                         2.0          green, fatty, oily,                                                            animal                                                2-pentyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        2.0          fatty, vegetable, animal                              2-hexyl-oct-2-enal                                                                         1.0          meaty, burnt, fatty,                                                           green                                                 2-heptyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        2.0          fatty, acid, floral,                                                           sweet, oily, animal                                   2-butyl-non-2-enal                                                                         2.0          slightly fatty acid,                                                           slightly green, oily,                                                          meaty                                                 2-pentyl-non-2-enal                                                                        1.0          fatty, slightly meaty                                 2-methyl-non-2-enal                                                                        0.2          powerful fried oil                                                             character, fatty                                      ______________________________________                                    

Further samples of compounds of formula (I) in their pure state were subjected to odour evaluation. The comments expressed by the tasting panel are given hereinbelow.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Compound         Evaluation comments                                           ______________________________________                                         2-propyl-hex-2-enal                                                                             fruity, floral, woody                                         2-pentyl-hex-2-enal                                                                             fruity, strawberry like                                       2-ethyl-hept-2-enal                                                                             fatty, floral                                                 2-hexyl-hept-2-enal                                                                             fruity, citrus fruit, mandarine                               2-pentyl-non-2-enal                                                                             fatty, animal                                                 2-methyl-non-2-enal                                                                             fruity, fishy, oily                                           2-isopropyl-oct-2-enal                                                                          fatty, green                                                  2-hexyl-non-2-enal                                                                              fatty                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 2

A reconstituted beef broth was prepared by mixing together the following ingredients (parts by weight):

    ______________________________________                                         Commercial beef extract                                                                             10                                                        Monosodium glutamate 1                                                         50:50 Mixture of sodium inositate:                                             sodium guanilate     0.005                                                     Sodium chloride      8                                                         Lactic acid          0.5                                                       Water                980.485                                                                        1,000.000                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Samples of the thus prepared broth were flavoured by making use of the following ingredient at the given concentrations and were then subjected to an organoleptic evaluation by comparison with an unflavoured sample.

                  TABLE                                                            ______________________________________                                         Compound    Dosage [ppm] Evaluation comments                                   ______________________________________                                         2-propyl-hept-2-enal                                                                       2.0          more meaty, fatty,                                                             burnt                                                 2-butyl-hept-2-enal                                                                        3.0          greener, fattier,                                                              reminiscent of chicken                                                         fat                                                   2-methyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        0.05         more meaty, chicken                                                            character                                             2-propyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        3.0          more burnt, caramel                                                            character                                             2-butyl-oct-2-enal                                                                         3.0          more pronounced meaty                                                          and fatty character                                   2-pentyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        3.0          fattier, tallow cha-                                                           racter                                                2-hexyl-oct-2-enal                                                                         2.0          more meaty, chicken,                                                           chicken fat                                           2-heptyl-oct-2-enal                                                                        3.0          fatty broth character                                 2-butyl-non-2-enal                                                                         3.0          animal, burnt                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 3

A beef broth was prepared according to Example 2 and samples thereof were evaluated as usual by comparison with an unflavoured sample. The Table below will summarize the results of the evaluation.

                  TABLE                                                            ______________________________________                                         Compound      Dosage [ppm]                                                                               Evaluation comments                                  ______________________________________                                         2-pentyl-non-2-enal                                                                          2.0         more meaty                                           2-methyl-non-2-enal                                                                          0.05        powerful oily taste,                                                           fatty, fried oil                                     ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4

A sample of commercial hydrogenated vegetable oil of bland taste was flavoured by making use of 2-methyl-non-2-enal at a concentration of 0.50 ppm.

Extruded corn snacks were manufactured by using a base of 75% corn and 25% dehydrated potato powder and coated with the flavoured oil in the following proportions:

    ______________________________________                                         extruded snacks     80 g                                                       flavoured oil       20 g                                                                          100 g (Sample A)                                            ______________________________________                                    

A second sample of identical corn snacks was coated in the same proportions with unflavoured oil (sample B). The two samples were evaluated organoleptically.

Comments:

odour: sample A was more oily and more fried in character than B.

flavour: sample A was more fried in character. The tasters were unanimous in considering that sample A possessed a more typical French fries character. What we claim is: 1. A method for improving the organoleptic properties of foodstuffs and beverages having a meaty taste which comprises adding thereto from about 0.01 to 10 parts per million by weight based on the weight of said foodstuff or beverage of at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of the formula ##STR2## wherein symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde is 2-methyl-oct-2-enal. 3. A foodstuff or a beverage having a meaty taste which comprises having added thereto as a flavouring effective ingredient from about 0.01 to 10 parts per million by weight based on the weight of said foodstuff or beverage of a substantially pure α,β-unsaturated aldehyde of the formula ##STR3## wherein symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms. 4. The foodstuff or beverage according to claim 3 wherein the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde is 2-methyl-oct-2-enal. 5. A method to improve the oily-green gustative note of a foodstuff subjected to a frying process which method comprises adding thereto from about 0.01 to 10 parts per million by weight based on the weight of said foodstuff of at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of the formula ##STR4## wherein symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms. 6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde is 2-methyl-oct-2-enal. 

What we claim is:
 1. A method for improving the organoleptic properties of foodstuffs and beverages having a meaty taste which comprises adding thereto from about 0.01 to 10 parts per million by weight based on the weight of said foodstuff or beverage of at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of the formula ##STR5## wherein symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde is 2-methyl-oct-2-enal.
 3. A foodstuff or a beverage having a meaty taste which comprises having added thereto as a flavouring effective ingredient from about 0.01 to 10 parts per million by weight based on the weight of said foodstuff or beverage of a substantially pure α,β-unsaturated aldehyde of the formula ##STR6## wherein symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms.
 4. The foodstuff or beverage according to claim 3 wherein the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde is 2-methyl-oct-2-enal.
 5. A method to improve the oily-green gustative note of a foodstuff subjected to a frying process which method comprises adding thereto from about 0.01 to 10 parts per million by weight based on the weight of said foodstuff of at least one of the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes of the formula ##STR7## wherein symbol R represents a linear alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 7 carbon atoms.
 6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde is 2-methyl-oct-2-enal. 